DIY giant B&Q has dramatically scaled back plans for an £8million superstore in Weston leading to a jobs blow for the town. Proposals to build a huge store in Aisecome Way have been slashed by over a half meaning the loss of over 100 jobs promised by the

DIY giant B&Q has dramatically scaled back plans for an £8million superstore in Weston leading to a jobs blow for the town.Proposals to build a huge store in Aisecome Way have been slashed by over a half meaning the loss of over 100 jobs promised by the national company.In August 2005, B&Q won a long battle with North Somerset Council to put up a massive shop measuring over 13,000sq metres.Company bosses pledged the new development would provide 200 new jobs to go with the 50 staff who would transfer from the existing store in Phillips Road.But revised plans mean the new mini-warehouse will now only employ a total of 120 full and part-time workers in a store measuring just 5,600sq metres.Four other retail units will also be built on the space left by the smaller B&Q store.A planning application for the new proposal is expected to be made in September. If approved, B&Q bosses said they hoped the new development would open towards the end of 2007, when the current store will close down.A B&Q spokesman said: "We have reviewed the market in Weston and adjusted our requirements accordingly so that the new store, if approved, would follow our mini-warehouse format rather than our warehouse format."North Somerset Council executive member for planning Councillor John Crockford-Hawley said: "We feel let down by B&Q. The company was adamant it needed a store of 13,000sq metres. We had a long argument with the company and went to a great deal of expense in fighting its planning appeal but lost. It now turns out we were right.